Floor grinding/polishing machine with gimbal-mounted grinding/polishing head

ABSTRACT

A floor grinding/polishing machine with a gimbal-mounted grinding/polishing head is disclosed. The floor grinding/polishing machine includes a wheeled carriage, a handle attached to the carriage for controlling the wheeled carriage, a grinding/polishing head attached to the wheeled carriage, and a motor supported on the grinding/polishing head for driving one or more abrasive discs on the bottom of the grinding/polishing head. The grinding/polishing head mounts to the wheeled carriage with a gimbal mount, allowing fore-and-aft pivoting of the head, as well as side-to-side pivoting of the head relative to the wheeled carriage.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates generally to floor grinding and/or polishing machines and, in particular, to a floor grinding/polishing machine with a pivoting grinding/polishing head.

BACKGROUND

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, known floor grinding and/or polishing machines generally have a wheeled carriage C, a handle H attached to the carriage for controlling the wheeled carriage, and a grinding and/or polishing head PH attached to the wheeled carriage. An electric motor M is supported on the head PH and drives one or more abrasive discs on the underside of the head. The head is mounted to the wheeled carriage with two lateral, coaligned pivots (along a common lateral pivot axis A), allowing fore-and-aft pivoting of the grinding/polishing head. There is no side-to-side pivoting of the head relative to the wheeled carriage. As a result, the side-to-side orientation of the grinding/polishing head is influenced by the floor surface under the carriage wheels (typically mounted rearwards of the head), such that a local irregularity under the rear wheels can cause the grinding/polishing head to want to tilt slightly in a direction inconsistent with the local orientation of the floor directly under the head. The result is that the known floor grinding/polishing machines track floor contours in a less than ideal manner.

Accordingly, it can be seen that a need exists for an improved floor grinding and/or polishing machine that better tracks local floor contours. It is to the provision of such that the present invention is primarily directed.

SUMMARY

Generally described, the present invention relates to a floor grinding/polishing machine having a wheeled carriage, a handle attached to the carriage for controlling the wheeled carriage, and a grinding/polishing head attached to the wheeled carriage. A motor is supported on the grinding/polishing head and drives at least one abrasive disc on the underside of the grinding/polishing head. Optionally, the grinding/polishing head can contain and drive multiple abrasive discs. The grinding/polishing head is mounted to the wheeled carriage with a gimbal mount, allowing fore-and-aft pivoting of the grinding/polishing head, as well as side-to-side pivoting of the grinding/polishing head relative to the wheeled carriage. This allows the grinding/polishing head to better track the floor surface.

Advantageously, the side-to-side orientation of the grinding/polishing head is not influenced by the floor surface under the carriage wheels, such that a local irregularity under the rear wheels does not cause the grinding/polishing head to want to tilt slightly in a direction inconsistent with the local orientation of the floor directly under the grinding/polishing head. Instead, the fore-and-aft pivoting of the grinding/polishing head, as well as side-to-side pivoting of the grinding/polishing head, is accomplished more or less independently of the orientation of the rear wheels of the wheeled carriage. As a result, the grinding/polishing head reacts to and tracks the local orientation of the floor directly under the grinding/polishing head, instead of being influenced by the orientation and contour of the floor in the areas surrounding that under the grinding/polishing head. By keeping the grinding/polishing head as parallel to the portion of the floor then under it, a better and more effective job of grinding and/or polishing can be achieved.

In another form, the present invention comprises a floor grinding/polishing machine having a wheeled carriage, a handle attached to the carriage for controlling the wheeled carriage, and a grinding/polishing head attached to the wheeled carriage. A motor is supported on the grinding/polishing head and drives one or more abrasive discs on the underside of the grinding/polishing head. The grinding/polishing head is mounted to the wheeled carriage with a two-axis mount, allowing fore-and-aft pivoting of the grinding/polishing head, as well as side-to-side pivoting of the grinding/polishing head relative to the wheeled carriage.

The specific techniques and structures employed to improve over the drawbacks of the prior devices and accomplish the advantages described herein will become apparent from the following detailed description of example embodiments and the appended drawings and claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a prior art floor grinding/polishing machine.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a portion of the prior art floor grinding/polishing machine of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a floor grinding/polishing machine according to a first example embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a mounting portion of the floor grinding/polishing machine of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5A is a plan view of the mounting portion of the floor grinding/polishing machine of FIG. 4.

FIG. 5B is a rear view of the mounting portion of the floor grinding/polishing machine of FIG. 4.

FIG. 5C is a front view of the mounting portion of the floor grinding/polishing machine of FIG. 4.

FIG. 5D is a right side view of the mounting portion of the floor grinding/polishing machine of FIG. 4.

FIG. 5E is a left side view of the mounting portion of the floor grinding/polishing machine of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the floor grinding/polishing machine of FIG. 3, shown with a motor portion of the floor grinding/polishing machine removed for clarity of illustration.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a main grinding/polishing head portion of the floor grinding/polishing machine of FIG. 3.

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of a hand knob pivotally connecting a wheeled carriage portion of the floor grinding/polishing machine of FIG. 3 to a pivot of the mounting portion of the floor grinding/polishing machine.

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of a pivot axle pivotally connecting a pivot of the mounting portion of the floor grinding/polishing machine of FIG. 4 with a lug portion of the main grinding/polishing head.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXAMPLE EMBODIMENTS

It is to be understood that this invention is not limited to the specific devices, methods, conditions, or parameters of the example embodiments described and/or shown herein, and that the terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments by way of example only. Thus, the terminology is intended to be broadly construed and is not intended to be unnecessarily limiting of the claimed invention. For example, as used in the specification including the appended claims, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” include the plural, the term “or” means “and/or,” and reference to a particular numerical value includes at least that particular value, unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. In addition, any methods described herein are not intended to be limited to the sequence of steps described but can be carried out in other sequences, unless expressly stated otherwise herein.

Generally described, the present invention relates to a floor grinding/polishing machine having a wheeled carriage, a handle attached to the carriage for controlling the wheeled carriage, and a grinding/polishing head attached to the wheeled carriage. A motor is supported on the grinding/polishing head and drives one or more abrasive discs on the underside of the grinding/polishing head. The grinding/polishing head is mounted to the wheeled carriage with a gimbal mount, allowing fore-and-aft pivoting of the grinding/polishing head, as well as side-to-side pivoting of the grinding/polishing head relative to the wheeled carriage. This allows the grinding/polishing head to better track the floor surface.

As used herein, the term grinding/polishing machine refers to machines used for grinding floor surfaces, machines used for polishing floor surfaces, or machines that do both. Similarly, the term grinding/polishing head refers to a head for grinding, to a head for a polishing, or a head for a grinding and/or polishing.

FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of the floor grinding/polishing machine 10 according to a preferred example embodiment of the present invention. The floor grinding/polishing machine 10 comprises a wheeled carriage 20, a handle 25 attached to the carriage 20 for controlling the wheeled carriage 20, and a grinding/polishing head 30 attached to the wheeled carriage 20. A motor 40 is supported on the grinding/polishing head 30 and drives at least one abrasive disc (unshown) on the underside of the grinding/polishing head 30. Those skilled in the art will recognize that the head 30 can contain and drive multiple abrasive discs. In example forms, an axle tube 22 extends between wheels 23 a, 23 b of the wheeled carriage 20 wherein the handle 25 and a pair of frame arms 24 extend therefrom. In one form, the handle 25 and the frame arms 24 are welded to the axle tube 22 of the wheeled carriage 20. Optionally, the handle 25 and the frame arms 24 can removably couple to the axle tube 22.

In example forms, a hand grip 26 is provided near the handle 25 for grasping and controlling the grinding/polishing machine 10. Optionally, a skirt 32 is provided along the periphery of the polishing head 30 for containing contents or debris that may be present and/or created during grinding and/or polishing.

The frame arms 24 of the wheeled carriage 20 mount to the grinding/polishing head with a gimbal mount 50, allowing fore-and-aft pivoting of the grinding/polishing head (about a pivot axis A), as well as side-to-side pivoting of the grinding/polishing head relative to the wheeled carriage 20 (about a pivot axis B). As such, the gimbal mount 50 allows the grinding/polishing head 30 to remain level with the floor surface independent of the orientation of the carriage wheels 23 a, 23 b. Thus, the grinding/polishing head reacts to and tracks the local orientation of the floor directly under the grinding/polishing head allowing for a better and more effective job of grinding and/or polishing.

FIGS. 4-5E show the gimbal mount 50 in greater detail. In example forms, the gimbal mount 50 forms a closed-loop frame 51 wherein the pivot axes A, B are defined by a plurality of openings formed therein (as will be described below). In one form, the gimbal mount 50 comprises a first U-shaped member 52 and a second U-shaped member 54 that are mounted together with first and second pivot-mount brackets 56, 58. As depicted in FIG. 4, the first and second pivot-mount brackets 56, 58 are mounted to the second U-shaped member 54 with bolts or other forms of fasteners. Moreover, the first and second pivot-mount brackets 56, 58 comprise bushing-like pivots 60, 62 that engage portions of the first U-shaped member 52 (see FIG. 8). The bushing-like pivots 60, 62 generally extend through the first U-shaped member 52 and coalign with each other to define the lateral pivot axis A (see FIG. 5A). In some example forms, ball bearings, grease, lubrication or other forms of friction-reducing components and/or materials can be provided to allow for frictionless pivoting of the gimbal mount about the pivot axis A.

Further, the first and second U-shaped members 52, 54 comprise pivots 64, 66 that are generally coaligned to define a longitudinal pivot axis B. In example forms, the pivot axis A is generally perpendicular relative to the pivot axis B. Preferably, the gimbal mount 50 may be formed and shaped as desired, for example, diamond-shaped, hexagonal-shaped or otherwise shaped as desired such that the pivots 60, 62, 64, 66 coalign to define the pivot axes A, B, respectively.

FIG. 6 shows the frame arms 24 mounted to the gimbal mount 50, and shows the gimbal mount 50 mounted to the grinding/polishing head 30. The ends of the frame arms 24 align with the pivots 60, 62 of the brackets 56, 58 (forming the gimbal mount 50), and pivotally mount thereto with hand knobs 70, 72. In example forms, each hand knob provides a short pivot axle or pivot pin 80, 82 that extends along pivot axis A from the outer portion of the frame arms 24 through the bushing-like pivots 60, 62 to support the gimbal mount 50 pivoting about the pivot axis A.

The pivots 64, 66 of the first and second U-shaped members 52, 54 pivotally mount to fore and aft lugs 34, 35 (see FIG. 7) formed on an upper portion of the grinding/polishing head 30. Generally, a bolt or pivot axle extends through each pivot 64, 66 and lug 34, 35 wherein a nut or other element secures the axle thereto. For example, a pivot axle 84 is provided for pivotally mounting the pivot 66 of the second U-shaped member 54 with the forward lug 34, and a pivot axle 86 is provided for pivotally mounting the pivot 64 of the first U-shaped member 52 with the aft lug 35 (see FIG. 9). Optionally, as described above, ball bearings, grease, lubrication or other forms of friction-reducing components and/or materials can be provided to allow for flawless pivoting of the gimbal mount 50 about the pivot axis B.

FIG. 8 shows a cross-sectional view of the hand knob 70 pivotally connecting the frame arm 24 of the wheeled carriage 20 to the pivot 60 of the gimbal mount 50. As shown, the pivot axle 80 extends from the outer portion of the frame arm 24 and through the bushing-like pivot 60 (defining the pivot axis A). Optionally, a thrust washer or anti-friction washer 28 may be provided as desired.

FIG. 9 shows a cross-sectional view of the pivot axle 86 pivotally connecting the first U-shaped member 52 to the aft lug 35 of the grinding/polishing head 30. Preferably, threaded nut or other element is provided to ensure the pivot axle 86 remains engaged therebetween wherein the grinding/polishing head 30 can pivot side-to-side (about the pivot axis B) relative to the wheeled carriage 20.

Described another way, the present invention comprises a floor grinding and/or polishing machine having a wheeled carriage, a handle attached to the carriage for controlling the wheeled carriage, and a grinding/polishing head attached to the wheeled carriage. A motor is supported on the grinding/polishing head for driving at least one abrasive disc on the underside of the grinding/polishing head. A multi-axis mount is provided for mounting the grinding/polishing head to the wheeled carriage, allowing fore-and-aft pivoting of the grinding/polishing head, as well as side-to-side pivoting of the head relative to the wheeled carriage. Preferably, the multi-axis mount is in the form of a gimbal mount including a hoop-like gimbal frame, a first pair of pivot pins pivotally securing the hoop-like gimbal frame to the wheeled carriage and a second pair of pivot pins pivotally securing the hoop-like gimbal frame to the grinding/polishing head. Optionally, the hoop-like gimbal frame includes a first U-shaped portion and a second U-shaped portion removably bolted to the first U-shaped portion.

While the claimed invention has been shown and described in example forms, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that many modifications, additions, and deletions can be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the following claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A floor grinding and/or polishing machine comprising: a wheeled carriage; a handle attached to the carriage for controlling the wheeled carriage; a grinding/polishing head; a motor supported on the grinding/polishing head; and a gimbal mount movably connecting the grinding/polishing head to the wheeled carriage and allowing both fore-and-aft pivoting of the grinding/polishing head relative to the wheeled carriage and side-to-side pivoting of the grinding/polishing head relative to the wheeled carriage.
 2. The floor grinding and/or polishing machine of claim 1, wherein the gimbal mount includes a hoop-like gimbal frame, a first pair of pivot pins pivotally securing the hoop-like gimbal frame to the wheeled carriage and a second pair of pivot pins pivotally securing the hoop-like gimbal frame to the grinding/polishing head.
 3. The floor polishing machine of claim 2, wherein the hoop-like gimbal frame includes a first U-shaped portion and a second U-shaped portion removably bolted to the first U-shaped portion.
 4. A floor polishing machine comprising: a wheeled carriage; a handle attached to the carriage for controlling the wheeled carriage; a grinding/polishing head attached to the wheeled carriage; a motor supported on the polishing head for driving at least one abrasive disc on the underside of the polishing head; and a multi-axis mount for mounting the grinding/polishing head to the wheeled carriage, allowing fore-and-aft pivoting of the grinding/polishing head, as well as side-to-side pivoting of the grinding/polishing head relative to the wheeled carriage. 